Designing and Evaluating a School-based Hand Washing Program in Malawi

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: School-based, Hand-washing, Program, Malawi

Treatments: Behavioral: Hand Washing Program (HWP)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02968251

HSEARS20160619001

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of the study is to design and evaluate a school-based hand washing program for children in Malawi, Sub-Saharan Africa, using a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT), so as to improve proper hand washing, increase knowledge level and also reduce school absenteeism.

Full description

A cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) design with pre-, mid- and post-interventions and follow-up measures will be randomized into intervention or control groups. A simplified 5-steps hand washing program will be implemented in the intervention group while the control group will continue with their usual practice where schoolchildren do not follow any standard recommended handwashing technique.

Enrollment: 360 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Schools that have piped tap water source situated in Mzuzu City,
• Private primary schools,
• Children in elementary one and six,
• Written parental consent allowing their child to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Schools without piped tap water source,
• Government primary schools,
• Children whose parents will not give consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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360 participants in 2 patient groups

Hand Washing Program (HWP)

Experimental group

Description:

Clusters in this arm will be given a Hand Washing Program (HWP) which will consist of: integrating hand washing practice in the school health policy, setting up proper hand washing facilities in the intervention schools, training to school teachers, delivering of health talk to schoolchildren and their parents, developing reminders and posters of a simplified 5-step hand washing technique, peer briefing session, take home package (5-steps hand washing, commitment letter, poster, leaflet). The program will be delivered once every week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Hand Washing Program (HWP)

No Hand Washing Program (NHWP)

No Intervention group

Description:

Clusters in this arm will be allowed to continue with their usual practice regarding hand washing/hygiene